Oregon’s drug decriminalization experiment appears dead

[steve from amherst]

Oregon’s pioneering drug decriminalization experiment is dead. At least if state lawmakers get their way.

The Oregon Senate on Friday passed House Bill 4002 on a 21-8 vote, with support from both Democrats and Republicans. It now heads to the desk of Gov. Tina Kotek, who has declined to say whether she supports the bill, but has signaled she is open to reintroducing penalties for drug possession.

HB 4002 would upend a voter-approved decriminalization policy that has been in place for three years. Under the bill anyone caught with small amounts of illicit drugs like meth or fentanyl could face up to six months in jail. The bill offers people options to pursue drug treatment rather than receiving criminal penalties, and allows people convicted of possession to have their record automatically expunged.

Despite those “off ramps,” the bill has been harshly criticized by advocates for drug decriminalization, who accuse lawmakers of retreating to a war on drugs that had particularly negative outcomes for people of color.

Among its many provisions, HB 4002 also expands access to medications used to treat opioid withdrawal, creates new addiction services facilities, and makes it easier for prosecutors to seek steep penalties for drug dealers.

“With this bill, we are doubling down on our commitment to make sure Oregonians have access to the treatment and care that they need,” said Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, D-Portland, who co-wrote the bill. Lieber argued HB 4002 will “be the start of real and transformative change for our justice system.”

[Mainecat]

Let ‘em take what they want.

[BOHICA]

The biggest issue from this, is all the other crime that legalizing all drugs has lead to for business’s and homeowners.

Edited March 3 by BOHICA

[EvilBird]

49 minutes ago, Mainecat said:

Let ‘em take what they want.

Yeah until your kid dies from some "friend" giving them a bad pill. 

Oh thats right no kids faggot. 

[ActionfigureJoe]

It was a big mistake to legalize hard drugs. Best kept illegal and in the shadows. The drugs of today are simply too addictive and deadly. Last summer I was in Mammoth MT. Two guys were shooting up while sitting on a planter alongside the sidewalk. Little kids and families were walking by. They needed to have been taken away by the police or a group of concerned citizens and beaten with strips of garden hose. A beating that they would never forget. I’m sick of this permissive bullshit. 

[Mainecat]

1 hour ago, EvilBird said:

Yeah until your kid dies from some "friend" giving them a bad pill. 

Oh thats right no kids faggot. 

Your kid can die from alcohol. Legalizing would eliminate the uncontrolled potency of drugs. 

oh that’s right your a brain dead moron. 
Your kids must be proud you support a rapist and fraud.

 

[Mainecat]

1 hour ago, ActionfigureJoe said:

It was a big mistake to legalize hard drugs. Best kept illegal and in the shadows. The drugs of today are simply too addictive and deadly. Last summer I was in Mammoth MT. Two guys were shooting up while sitting on a planter alongside the sidewalk. Little kids and families were walking by. They needed to have been taken away by the police or a group of concerned citizens and beaten with strips of garden hose. A beating that they would never forget. I’m sick of this permissive bullshit. 

It would be ok if they were drunk out of their mind sharing a handle of Vodka though…….eye roll.

[J. Jackson]

7 minutes ago, Mainecat said:

Your kid can die from alcohol. Legalizing would eliminate the uncontrolled potency of drugs. 

oh that’s right your a brain dead moron. 
Your kids must be proud you support a rapist and fraud.

 

Once again you raise the bar for your retardedness....

[ActionfigureJoe]

11 minutes ago, Mainecat said:

It would be ok if they were drunk out of their mind sharing a handle of Vodka though…….eye roll.

Only you would think there’s a difference. Why do you persist in defending these progressive laws that are an obvious disaster? I’ll tell you why. It’s because to stay in support of DNC principles, you have to trade almost every value you were raised with.